PITTSBURGH, June 30, 2016 /CNW/ -- In its second announcement of 2016, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission today awarded 23 Carnegie Medals in recognition of outstanding civilian heroism. The medal is given throughout the United States and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. One of the awardees, Calindo C. Fletcher, Jr., of Huntsville, Ala., died in the performance of his heroic act, by which he attempted to save a man from drowning in Athens, Ala., last July 4.

The heroes announced today bring to 47 the number of awards made to date in 2016 and to 9,868 the total number since the Pittsburgh-based Fund's inception in 1904. Commission Chair Mark Laskow stated that each of the awardees or their survivors will also receive a financial grant. Throughout the 112 years since the Fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, $38.2 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance. The awardees are: